Jacob j



JAOOB'J. UNBEHEND, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO .IUDSON L.

THOMSON, OF SAME PLACE.

SHOE-CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent N0. 305,410, dated September 16, 1884:.

I Application filed July 5, 1884. (No model.)

i To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB J. UNBEHEND, of

Syracuse, in thecounty of Onondaga, in the view of the clasp interlocked with the slotted companion plate shown in dotted lines. Fig

2 is a detached plan view of said slotted plate. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the clasp with the tongue thrown off from its attaching-plate, to

, better illustrate the construction of said mem- "fibers. Fig. 4 is an edge view of the clasp with i the tongue raised, to illustrate the operation of the spring. Fig. 5 is a plan view of. the blank from which the attachingplate of the clasp is formed. Fig. 6 is alongitudinal section of the same, and Fig. 7 is an edge view illustrating modifications of my invention.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a metal plate provided with transverse slots S S, and adapted to be at tachcd to one of the quarters or straps of the shoe. O is another metal plate, designed to be attached to the other quarter or strap of the shoe, and F is the tongue hinged on the attaching-plate O, and adapted to enter one of the slots of the plate A, and thus interlock with said plate, as represented in Fig. 1 of the draw- 1ngs. r

It is the construction of the clasp proper viz., the plate 0 and tongue T-which my invention has reference to. This clasp consists, essentially, of two flexible plates connected together at or near one end, and a third plate having angular projections passing between the free ends of the first two plates and con stituting the hinge of the tongue. The pressure of the flexible plates on the angular hingepin serves to yieldingly hold the tongue in two of its operative positions-via, standing extended forward from its attaching-plate, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and lying back upon its attaching-plate for retaining the interlocked plate A, as represented in Fig. 1 of the drawings. In order to manufacture the said clasp in an inexpensive and expeditious manner, I form the attaching-plate O of aspring sheet-metal blank,B, having a solid centralportion, a, openings 1) Z) at opposite sides of said central portion, and end extensions, 0 0, having angular or elongated depressions or recesses d d, as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings. This blank I fold across the center once upon itself, so as to bring the two end portions to lie.contiguously one upon the other, and with the recesses d d between the free ends thereof, said blank being thus converted into two spring leaves or jaws, having between them the aforesaid recesses, into which is extended a corresponding angular or elongated pintle, e, formed integral with or otherwise rigidly attached tothe tongue T. In raising the free end ofsaidtongue, the pintlee thereof is caused to pry apart the free ends of the two springjaws, which constitute the att-aching-plate of the clasp, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and the pressure of said jaws on the pintle e throws the tongue T either forward or back after it has passed over the center of its movement.

It will be observed that by my improvement I obviate the short bend required on the end of the plate to form the usual round eye or sleeve for the reception of the common hinge-pin, said short bend being difficult to make with the material required for the clasp. The blank B, withthe recesses d d, is easily stamped out of sheet-steel, and when doubled,

as described, completes the combined attaching-plate and spring. I do not, however, limit myself to the described construction of the-attaching-plate O and tongue T, as it is obvious that the plate 0 may consist of a single leaf,

and the spring for actuating the tongue can be obtained by forming the tongue of two flexible plates connected together at their free ends, and provided at their opposite ends with the recesses d d for grasping the hinge-pin attached to the plate G, as illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

What I claim as my invention is- L A shoe-clasp composed of two flexible plates lying-one upon the other, and connected together at orggneari one end, and a third plate having angular'projections extending between 5 the free ends of the flexible plates, substantially as described, and constituting the hinge of the tongue, in the manner set forth.

2. In a shoe-clasp, the combination of two spring-jaws provided between their vibratory r 10 ends with angular or elongated recesses, substantially as described, an angular pintle extending between said recesses, and a tongue attached to said pintle, substantially as set forth and shown.

3. The blank B, formed with the solid cen- 15 tral portion, a, openings 6 b at opposite sides of the said central portion, and end extensions, 0 0, having recesses d d, substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed 20 

